Yesterday I watched a news story. Women and children are coming to our boarders, believing that they will find freedom. Believing in the American Dream; met at the border by rich US citizens, turned away, screamed at, disregarded as people. We furiously protect what we have, forgetting where we got it!

Trail of Tears

We forget that our ancestors came from other countries; pushing out the native people who lived here. In many cases with genocide.

We forget that our ancestors came, and lived in hovels, worked, scraped, struggled. So that they could have the American Dream. We forget that they were scorned and terrorized, yet kept coming. We forget where we came from.

This is not a treatise on immigration policy, I am not smart enough for that. This is a call for understanding and love, for a return to our basic values of liberty and justice for all. What are the words?

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips.“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

This is how most of us arrived here. My great grandparents from Prussia and England with little, working their way here to the Midwest, coming to dream.